Mackenzie Blackwood stars in Avalanche debut as Colorado holds off Nashville

The Colorado Avalanche has spent a large chunk of this season trying to outscore its goaltending problem.

Mackenzie Blackwood made those issues look like a thing of the past in his Avs debut. Blackwood was stellar, particularly in the opening half of this one, and eventually Colorado’s high-end offensive players helped him out in a 5-2 victory Saturday night against the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena.

“I thought he was outstanding,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Just complete control of the game for me. He held onto to every first shot … slowed the game down for us.”

Blackwood made 37 saves in his first game since arriving from San Jose in a trade for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko and a second-round pick. Along with Scott Wedgewood, who was acquired in a trade from Nashville just 10 days before that, goaltending has suddenly become a strength.

Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen had two goals each in the win.

There was a breakaway save in the second period that eventually led to a standing ovation for Blackwood. There were some saves in the third period that led to multiple “Black-wood” chants.

“It feels great,” Blackwood said. “Tough first week coming here — under the weather, didn’t skate much. It was a great game to be a part of. I’m so thankful that we came out with a win in the first one.”

Steven Stamkos ended Blackwood’s shutout bid with 6:57 remaining, finally beating him with Nashville’s 38th shot of the game. Then Luke Evangelista made it a 3-2 game with 4:52 left, scoring with his net empty and just as the one behind Blackwood was coming off its moorings.

This was far from a great game for the Avalanche skaters, but the new goalie kept the Predators at bay for long enough, and then the big guns started scoring.

The Avs have several players who are playing through an illness that has spread through the locker room. Bednar noted that Logan O’Connor was vomiting after the first period, and Ross Colton said he was also on the list of guys under the weather after the game.

The Avs struggled to create quality scoring chances in the first 30 minutes of this game, and the second line looked like it was scuffling at times. But one good shift flipped the script.

Casey Mittelstadt controlled the puck behind the net while being pinned up against the boards. He wiggled free and found Colton in the slot with a perfect pass. Colton’s one-timer beat Juuse Saros at 11:32 of the second.

It was Colton’s 10th goal of the season — good for third on the team — in only 15 games played. He could still be Colorado’s No. 3 center at some point, but Colton has played so well on the wing that it certainly seems like Avs coach Jared Bednar would like to keep him there.

That could mean trading for another center to improve the club’s depth there before the trade deadline, but for now Colton is fifth in the NHL in goals per game among players who have played in at least five contests.

MacKinnon scored a goal for the third straight game to put Colorado up by two goals late in the second. Mikko Rantanen forechecked Nashville defenseman Marc Del Gaizo into a turnover, then fed MacKinnon cutting toward the net. The reigning MVP did not miss, tucking a shot under the crossbar with 1:08 left.

MacKinnon set up Lehkonen for Colorado’s third goal. He carried the puck through the neutral zone and dropped it to Lehkonen, who skated in and blistered a shot into the top-right corner of the net 3:30 into the final period.

After the Predators made it a game late in the third period, MacKinnon and Lehkonen both put one into the empty net to end any doubt.

That’s 13 goals this season for MacKinnon, and a league-leading 50 points. MacKinnon had a scoring slump, collecting only three points (all assists) in an eight-game span before the start of a recent East Coast road trip. The 2024 league MVP has six goals and 14 points in the past seven games to regain his place atop the NHL scoring leaderboard.

For about 30 minutes, the Avs were second-best in this contest, but Blackwood was the best player on the ice. Then Colorado’s offensive weaponry found its way.

Competent goaltending and a few highlight-reel plays feel like a far more sustainable path to success for this Avalanche roster after a bumpy start to this season.

“I wasn’t in love with our game, like it wasn’t a masterpiece,” Bednar said. “But we played well enough to get the two points — especially with how (Blackwood) played. He was a big part of it.”

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